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Live Lab Elevator
Festival 2017
Double Bill
Parklife by Mhairi
Ledgerwood
Sex With Robots And Other
Devices by Nessah Muthy
Newcastle Live Theatre
Until Friday 25th
February 2017
Live
Theatre have long been associated with new writing and hence it is appropriate
that they a running a week-long new writing festival. A number of activities,
workshops and productions will run this week. Details can be found here: PREVIEW LINK.
The
double bill showcased the work of two writers. We have local writer Mhairi
Ledgerwood who has had the opportunity to work up her short 10 minute play,
that was first shown in 2014, into a full production. The other play also had
its development supported by Live Theatre. Cloakroom Theatre were presented
with the Live Lab 2016 bursary. This resulted in both a £2000 bursary plus
space and support to develop the new work.
This has resulted in two very different tales which both have an eye on
the near future.
Parklife
Presented
by The Six Twenty
Written
by Mhairi Ledgerwood
Directed
by Melanie
Rashbrooke
Starring
Amy Foley as Victoria and Chris Foley as Alex
Memories
are important to us. They are what make us what we are. It isn’t just about
looking forward but about ensuring you don’t repeat the mistakes of the past.
Let’s face it, that’s why teenagers are full of confidence and solutions
whereas their elders tend to be more cautious.
In
a scenario that is similar to that faced by the passengers of the Axiom in the Pixar animation Wall-E, a
sample of Earth’s inhabitants have escaped a dying Earth. In order to capture what the Earth was like,
the memories of the passengers has been digitally stored. The only difference
is that such memories can be manipulated, changed or deleted. Imagine if an
inconvenient memory could be wiped out?
My
problem is the suggestion that you’d no longer be able to hear music that
you’ve deleted from your memory. Surely it would be like hearing the song for
the first time? But as you can see, the play was successful as it has created a
reaction and a debate.
The
play starts with a rapid change of scenes that is quite difficult to watch and
piece together the narrative. Persevering with it pays off as the later
exposition makes it clear how those initial snapshots tie together into a
coherent story.
Mhairi’s
script culminates into a moral maze about the ability to re-write or delete our
past. Perhaps the current political climate makes that particularly relevant. The
emotional abuse of a partner to the point of controlling their memories is an uncomfortable
concept. Amy Foley and Chris Foley work well in pulling the many strands
together and the lighting design is highly effective throughout the tale.
Sex With Robots And Other
Devices
Presented
by Cloakroom Theatre
Written
by Nessah Muthy
Directed
by Bobby Brook
Co-produced
by Jennifer Holton and Helen Matravers
Starring
Mark Conway, Safiah Durrah and Mona Goodwin
The
pedants will point out the play is about sex with androids rather than robots.
Leaving that aside, imagine a world in the near future in which you can order a
lifelike sex android that looks like your loved one. Its artificial
intelligence means that it learns behaviour and language from you. Before you
know it the device is able to hold a conversation with you. There is even an
app to make it smell like your loved one.
In
a production that has sexual, adult scenes and language we are sent through
another moral maze. Is it right to use
an android that adopts a personality in this way? Given that we can get
attached to our cars, imagine how we’d feel if we broken a machine that has
conversations with us and seeks to understand how we feel.
Actors
Mark Conway, Safiah Durrah and Mona Goodwin start by busting their dance moves
and quite a number of choreographic fillers through between scenes. It is easy
to relate to many of the characters. One often finds empathy for the android,
especially when relationships become abusive. The production had a number of
lighter moments that had a section of the audience laughing. This lightness
helped make the dark moments darker.
It
is worth noting how both shows were supported by effective lighting and sound
design. It is easy to take it all for granted.
Both
stories grabbed the attention of the audience. Hopefully they will be a
springboard for more plays from both writers. The actors did a great job
entertaining the Live Theatre audience in a pair of thought provoking
scenarios.
Review
by Stephen
Oliver.
Tickets:
The final chance to catch the double bill is on Friday
24th February. Tickets are £8, £6 concessions Box Office: 0191 232 1232 or online at http://www.live.org.uk/whats-on-book/live-lab-elevator-double-bill
DURATION: Approx. 2hrs 20mins, incl. interval
SUITABILITY: Suitable for ages 16+, contains strong language and sexual references
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